Hopes for September

by Matthew on Sep 3, 2011 5:00 PM PDT in Looking Ahead

Wallowing in the game today is a needless excuse in being morose. The Mariners lost. So what, really? It sucks that they lost so badly and that practically everyone involved had a game that was discouraging, but it's one game. There are more to come and then more after that, in the long run. The long run is what we should probably focus on since the short run is futile and the long run has not yet become futile. Hail, uncertainty!

To that desire, we are now in the month of September and the rosters have expanded. We have seen the likelihood of all the call-ups we will see except for the re-activation of Chone Figgins, but even then, I wonder how much playing time he will receive. Jeff and I discussed the topic at length, in spurts, on the most recent podcast, but here's a venue for you to sound off. What are you watching for (if you're watching at all) this month? What reasonable monthly trends would you make the most encouraged heading into the winter offseason?

Obviously, we want to see the Mariners gel and rip apart all comers in a scene reminiscent of Gulliver and the people of Lilliput, but that's not realistic. The interesting part is in the ordinal ranking of preferences. If you had to choose, would you rather see a good month out of Dustin Ackley or Justin Smoak? Or Kyle Seager? Maybe Ichiro. Do it in list form if you'd like. Top ten players, in order, that you would like to see have good months in September.

Tweet Comment 61 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

This is all I could have hoped for. I'm good.

by callsagoodgame on Sep 3, 2011 5:06 PM PDT reply actions 13 recs

His reaction!

“Welp, I’ve got a baseball in my grill. Preeeetty, preeeetty cool.”

by sanford_and_son on Sep 3, 2011 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

If this was a 3rd strike would he have to headbutt the batter?

by SgtSasquatch on Sep 3, 2011 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions 8 recs

Pretty sure if you catch the ball with your equipment, it's two bases for the batter.

by thehemogoblin on Sep 3, 2011 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

This

1. Guti; 2. Smoak; 3. Robinson; 4. Wells; 5. Seager; 6. Ruffin; 7. Cortes; 8. Furbush; 9. Ackley; 10. Felix

by calecab on Sep 3, 2011 5:18 PM PDT reply actions

In order:

1. Smoak. Even hitting a little bit would make me far more optimistic for next year.
2. Ackley. ROY with a strong september?
3. Guti. I know he’s been hitting more as of late, but i’d really like to see some power.
4. Pineda. Hope he can have a strong finish to the year, maybe get ROY.
5. Casper. Less k’s please.
6. Trayvon. You too, Trayvon.
7. Carp. Having a productive DH is blowing my mind.
8. Furbush. Think he can be a decent back of the rotation starter.
9. Ruffin.
10. Felix.

Kind of OT, but if Smoak/Carp are both starting next year, who starts at 1b? Smoak is a stronger fielder I think, but not really sure.

by Vogelscheuche on Sep 3, 2011 5:19 PM PDT reply actions

I'd wager Carp plays everyday while moving between DH/1B/LF in that order

with Smoak DHing fairly often and Wells/Trayvon getting days off reasonably often

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Sep 3, 2011 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions

basically rotating those four guys through three spots, maybe add Ichiro and Gutz in and rotate six guys through 5 spots

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Sep 3, 2011 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Right, makes sense.

by Vogelscheuche on Sep 4, 2011 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Sure.

Trayvon
Wells
Seager
Smoak
Furbush
Beavan
Vargas
Felix
Joof
Guti

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Sep 3, 2011 5:24 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Or to elaborate

I don’t care how our relievers do, and one month isn’t going to convince me that Ichiro or Guti are better. I’d rather see great success from the players whose unexpected value can make us contenders next year.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Sep 3, 2011 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

OK

1. Smoak – I really, really want Smoak to do well
2. Trayvon- I really, really want Trayvon to be awesome
3. Gutz
4. Casper
5. Carp
6. Seager
7. Ackley
8. Beavan
9. Furbush
10. Cortes

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Sep 3, 2011 5:26 PM PDT reply actions

All I want are Smoak and Wily Mo dingers.

by sanford_and_son on Sep 3, 2011 5:29 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

I would like to see Saunders come up and play in every single game remaining, hopefully well.

Maybe it’s the success of Mike Carp that makes me think Saunders snit’ ready for the ‘AAAA’ label quite yet.

by SgtSasquatch on Sep 3, 2011 5:36 PM PDT reply actions

Casper Wells, because I've been having second thoughts about that trade and our rotation.

by Janic on Sep 3, 2011 5:40 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I think I'll cut mine at five

1. Justin Smoak
2. Mike Carp
3. Dustin Ackley
4. Casper Wells
5. Kyle Seager

by ThundaPC on Sep 3, 2011 6:02 PM PDT reply actions

Bonus: Michael Pineda

Apparently, his changeup is coming along.

The third pitch has been a work-in-progress for Pineda all year, but today it was more. Today it became a useful weapon.

“My changeup was nasty,‘’ Pineda said. "My changeup is getting better now. In April, I was throwing a lot of sliders and teams knew I’d be throwing sliders during the game. Now, when teams think I’m going to throw a slider, I throw them a changeup. And that’s a good thing.’’

Josh Bard figured Pineda threw about 15 changeups today to go along with his usual fastball-slider combo. Pineda wound up with seven strikeouts on the day and allowed just three runs over six innings in the 3-0 loss.

“It’s something we’ve been working really hard on with him and he’s been working really hard,‘’ Bard said. "I think it’s a pitch that’s hopefully going to be a separator for him. I know it is for Felix (Hernandez). Felix has been the No. 1 salesman to him about it and Michael obviously respects Felix a lot as he should.’’

Pineda said of Hernandez: "I have learned a lot from him. He has treated me very well, which I appreciate a lot.’’

by ThundaPC on Sep 3, 2011 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

The fact that Felix is preaching to him the usefulness of the changeup, makes me love Felix even more.

RIP Dave Niehaus.

by Goose on Sep 3, 2011 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions

As if that were possible.

by fiftyone on Sep 3, 2011 6:51 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Fastball Felix had to sleep on the couch

by Kermit. on Sep 3, 2011 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I kinda hated fastball Felix.

RIP Dave Niehaus.

by Goose on Sep 4, 2011 1:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Okay

1. Saunders – I really want him to succeed, and maybe a strong enough September is enough to let the club keep him, or other teams to take him.
2. Smoak – That stretch he put up to start off the year gave me so much hope.
3. Guti – even if he doesn’t turn out to be a 6 WAR player or 8 if you include clutch hitting, I really hope he can return to form.
4. Carp – Please don’t be false hope
5. Furbush – You took Fister away from us >:(
6. Ichiro – He’ll probably turn out to be all right any way and hit 40 dingers or something next year
7. Ackley – Not that he needs it since he’s so damn awesome, but I wouldn’t mind him being more awesome
8. Seager – I hope he hits and even if he’s not the answer at 3rd, I’m confident he could be an awesome stopgap
9. Cortes/Lueke/Kelley/Ruffin – This is cheating I guess, but I just want a reliable flamethrowing set-up guy.
10. Wells – I haven’t seen RH power on the M’s since Richie Sexson and Wily Mo Pena I guess

You got slurved!

by Slurvey on Sep 3, 2011 6:07 PM PDT reply actions

As far as I'm concerned, an awesome stopgap is the answer at third

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Sep 3, 2011 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions

10...

1. Smoak
2. Trayvon
3. Seager
4. Ichiro
5. Wells
6. Ackley
7. Pineda
8. Cortes
9. Beavan
10. Carp

by SethGrandpa on Sep 3, 2011 6:07 PM PDT reply actions

Smoak for sure. Would really like to see him hit a few dingers before the season ends.

1. Smoak
2. Ackley
3. Wells
4. Carp
5. Wilhelmsen – I hope he can sustain his recent success through the rest of the year and beyond.
6. Seager
7. Guti
8. Pineda
9. Ruffin
10. Trayvon

by Designated Walker on Sep 3, 2011 6:37 PM PDT reply actions

After number one, my interest wanes substantially

1. Smoak
2. Ichiro
3. Vargas (come on man!)
4. Guti
5. Saunders
6. Wily Mo Gigante (for entertainment purposes only)
7. Kelley
8. Wilhelmsen
9. Lueke
10. Robinson

by fiftyone on Sep 3, 2011 6:48 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Here goes:

Gutierrez
Smoak
Carp
Furbush
Wells
Robinson
Ichiro
Wilhelmsen
Kelley
Eric Wedge

by thehemogoblin on Sep 3, 2011 6:55 PM PDT reply actions

It's pretty amazing how much young talent we have, hopefully they all have good Septembers, but if I had to rank:

Smoak
Seager
Carp
Pineda
Wells
Ackley
Furbush
Beaven
Guti
Ichiro

by Punkhazard on Sep 3, 2011 7:01 PM PDT reply actions

Didn't include Robinson because I think our OF next year is going to be Ichiro Guti and Wells

With Trayvon probably thrown in the outfield pile of Saunders, Halman, Peguero etc.

by Punkhazard on Sep 3, 2011 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions

My top 10 hopes for September

t-1. Smoak
t-1. Ackley
t-1. Gutierrez
4. Ichiro
5. Seager
6. Wells
7. Figgins (only to raise his trade value above a bag of peanuts)
8. Lueke
9. Cortes
10. Beaven

by Kyleo84 on Sep 3, 2011 7:23 PM PDT reply actions

Ok let's see...

1: Smoak
2: Trayvon
3: Carp
4: Wells
5: Ackley
6: Felix
7: Seager
8: Furbush
9: Fister (I would love to see Fister pitch in the world series. That would be awesome! Go Tigers.)
10: Smoak again, just for emphasis. Dingers/gappers please!

Honestly don’t really care about Guti, don’t care at all about Ichiro, and don’t really care much about the bullpen. Just looking for some of the young hitters to get hot.

by ATM's34 on Sep 3, 2011 7:59 PM PDT reply actions

Let's see:

1. Smoak – just tell that boy it’s April all year long.
2. Wells – I really wanna believe this guy is more than a 4th outfielder.
3. Vargas – needs to get back to being dependably average or above, instead of the shitty Post-All-Star Vargas this year. Our rotation is no longer the bee’s knees.
4. Robinson – his strikeout ways, without enough corresponding power or plate discipline, worry me about his future as a major leaguer.
5. Carp – I want to see his plate discipline improve to the point that he can still be useful when his BABIP/line drive percentage returns to human levels.
6. Furbush – This guy seems to be just an adjustment or two away from being a solid starter. He’s not good enough yet.
7. Ichiro! – will the BABIP luck dragons return?
8. Guti – how about a dinger or three?
9. Seager – can he be an effective overall 3B without BABIP good fortune?
10. Pena – DINGERS. I am a simple creature.

by VivaAyala on Sep 3, 2011 8:18 PM PDT reply actions

These read like Baseball Prospectus cover features

Ready to Play

by tsunamijesus on Sep 4, 2011 12:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Huh.

I don’t read Baseball Prospectus, so I don’t know if that’s a good, bad, or neutral thing.

by VivaAyala on Sep 4, 2011 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know if you'll dredge up this comment but

if you look at the covers of BP hard copies, they have, for this year for example, a picture of Joe Mauer and it says “will his power return when the twins need it” or something like that. Every year, they have the same “will his power return when the ____ need it” with a different player. I think the year before it was David Wright. And we all know it did, but he strikes out a lot now. Dude’s aging. They also have a “is he the best _ in the big leagues right now?” and a picture of, usually, a rookie. It’s all sensationalism, in my opinion. No, Carlos Santana is not the best catcher in MLB right now. But you got my attention, guys and Christina Kahrl.

Ready to Play

by tsunamijesus on Sep 5, 2011 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm torn between the actual potential of certain players and those guys I just really like. Such is my life as a baseball fan.

1. Smoak.
2. Saunders
3. Guti
4. Seager
5. Ryan
6. Wells
7. Ichiro
8. Wilhemson.
9. Vargas
10. Kelley

by truemsfan on Sep 3, 2011 8:38 PM PDT reply actions

I'd like to see a combination of vets Im worried about and kids with more to prove

1. Smoak
2. Guti
3. Vargas
4. Trayvon
5. Wells
6. Seager
7. Carp
8. Ichiro
9. Ackley
10. Any reliever Kelley/Leuke/Cortes
Bonus: Figlet!

by Eeyore hates figlet on Sep 3, 2011 9:13 PM PDT reply actions

I want the Mariners to finish 24-0

And for Smoak to hit like 800 dingers

by Kouvre on Sep 3, 2011 9:27 PM PDT reply actions

Smoak, Carp, Guti, Pineda, Casper, Trayvon, Bedard, Seager, Fister,

And Jack Wilson too!

by jackyz on Sep 3, 2011 9:44 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Order of guys that NEED a good month.

1. Smoak
2. Gutierrez
3. Vargas
4. Carp
5. Seager (trade bait…)
6. Liddi (Seager’s replacement)
7. Trayvon
8. Ackley
9. Pena (But not too amazing…want him next year too. Solid bench hitter)
10. Ichiro (he’s not going anywhere, but lets get a glimpse to see if ANYTHING will change in 2012)

by ichirofan5197 on Sep 3, 2011 9:45 PM PDT reply actions

Hmm

1. Smoak
2. Casper
3. Ackley
4. Trayvon
5. Seager
6. Guti
7. Vargas
8. Furbush
9. Carp
10. Pineda

My Twitter Feed

by Griffin Cooper on Sep 3, 2011 9:58 PM PDT reply actions

These lists are getting boring. C'mon people! We can do better than this. Or at least different.

Here are my top ten. By the way I am terrible at following the rules.

In September, I’d like….
1. Felix and Pineda to kick back, pop open a cold one, and not get hurt. ( I know, that’s 2 players) We need you NEXT year. For now, just, I dunno, throw easy. Maybe work on developing a new pitch or something. Oh. I guess Pineda’s doing that already. Good job.
2. Figgins to take up drumming, join the band Spinal Tap, then spontaneously combust.
3. Trayvon Robinson to call the manager “Wedgie” to his face.
4. Mike Carp to keep walking on water. Or swimming upstream. There’s a fish joke in here somewhere.
5. In a post-game interview, this needs to happen.
Kyle Seager: I’m just trying to help the team any way I can.
Journalist: So, are you related to Bob Seager? Because he’s totally awesome.
KS: Umm. No.
J: Really, because you have the same name.
KS: No relation.
J: Oh. Bummer for you, huh?
…
6. Guti suddenly realizes that this whole time, his stomach problems have been caused by eating an entire bag of pork rinds every night. He switches to cheetohs, and is instantly 50% stronger. Starts hitting home runs.
7. Ackley finishes with a strong season and continues to bore everyone.
8. Ichiro!‘s BAPIP suddenly jumps to .460 in a staggering example of regression to the mean. Reaches 200 hits, raises his average over .300. The average fan, now watching football instead of the Mariners, doesn’t notice, so there are no accusations of “being selfish.”
9. Mariner management, in a last-ditch effort to boost attendance numbers, announce “team batting average” beer pricing policy. Fans flock to the stadium and root against their own team.
10. During the yankee series, local philanthropists buy up all the seats, then distribute tickets to Mariner fans only. Tests are given at the door: fans must name 3 members of the ’95 team, or sing the team fight song to get in. Yankees players are stunned at the boos and catcalls when they are announced. As the game proceeds and they realize they are playing the first “away” game in recent history, they crumble under the pressure, and lose, 0-0.

We'll always have 2001

by 116 on Sep 3, 2011 10:03 PM PDT reply actions

Figgins could always play a part as one of the Stonehenge pieces.

by nathaniel dawson on Sep 3, 2011 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Top 3 or so...

1- I want Brendan Ryan to wear stirrups again.
2- I want the M’s Commercial Voice-over Guy to suddenly exude way too much confidence.
3- I’d honestly and truthful like to see Smoak have a good month. When I was younger I was a switch-hitting first baseman with no speed so I’d really like the ideal me to succeed.

by I'mSureI'veSeenWorse on Sep 3, 2011 10:29 PM PDT reply actions

My top 5

1. Ichiro showing he still has it.

2. Carp continuing to mash

3. Pineda getting win #10 at least. He’s been unlucky in run support recently.
This guy has really been awesome for us.

4. Smoak, giving signs on whether April was a fluke or not. (Hopefully he gives a god performance).

5. Any of the relievers (besides League) showing that he doesn’t suck.

by daveinny on Sep 3, 2011 10:36 PM PDT reply actions

No order, just random:

1. — M’s to catch Oakland for third.

3 — Doug Fister facing Jack Wilson in Game 9 of the World Series

2 — Kyle Seager: I’m just trying to help the team any way I can.
       Journalist — So, are you related to Bob Seger? Because he’s really awesome.
      KS — Umm, no. Our names aren’t even spelled the same.
      J — Really? You don’t have the same name? Bummer for you, man!
      KS — Not really. I’m a third cousin of Pete Seeger.
     J — Really? Never heard of him. Did you notice Charlie Whitehurst looks like Bob Seger?
     KS — Charlie Whitehurst? Never heard of him.

4 — Pineda and Ackley split the ROY vote; Desmond Jennings wins instead, but with fewer votes than Pineda and Ackley combined.

"There are only two geniouses in this world: Willie Mays and William Shakespeare." -- Tallulah Bankhead (presumably not related to Scott)

by extavernmouse on Sep 3, 2011 11:11 PM PDT reply actions

I'd like to see the team put together a winning record for the month, relying mostly on the players they have under team control for the next few years.

That would be fun to watch, and it would create at least a little bit of excitement and optimism for next year. I don’t know that I would have preferences for certain players over others to do well, I’d just like to see what some of these players have to offer, and see them win some ballgames along the way.

by nathaniel dawson on Sep 3, 2011 11:16 PM PDT reply actions

The best way to get any guy's attention is to have a Top 10 list- if it a Top 10 list about broads, baseball, or guns it is sure to get my attention. God Bless America!

Anyhow,

(1) Furbush- having a #4 and #5 starter even half as awesome as Bedard & Fister would be lovely.
(2) Beaven- see above.
(3) Smoak- how I long for the days when the middle of the M’s line-up was successful. Can he make the adjustments needed and is he healthy?
(4) Wells- how I long for the days when the M’s had a left fielder that could hit- throw in one that can field too- terrific.
(5) Robinson- see above. I see Wells as a more developed hitter though the same logic above applies- if either he or Wells can develop, then swell.
(6) Seager- despite 3rd base being a train wreck, he’s not higher on my list. Don’t ask me why.
(7) Lueke- cause I’d like some faith in the bullpen next year and don’t want to rely on The Pile.
(8) Wilhelmsen- cause his story is good, cause I don’t want to rely on The Pile and because he looks a little bit creepy like actor Michael Shannon.
(9) Ruffin- cause Fister isn’t with us, you son of a bitch, and Fister was so awesome that we need two pitchers to replace his greatness.
(10) Figgins- so we can dump his ass on someone stupid.

Why didn’t I list Carp, Ackely, Guti or Ichiro? Cause Ichiro will be gone in a year so who cares. Guti is fine and will continue to regain power now that his intestines can digest arepas. Carp is the real deal and hits the ball with authority. And we never have to worry about Ackley because Ackely is a god and gods don’t need top 10 lists.

by Matsui on Sep 3, 2011 11:52 PM PDT reply actions